Blue-throated Macaw Conservation

To mitigate threats to blue-throated macaws in Bolivia

The illegal
trade in parrots was devastating for many species throughout the world, but
more pronounced for large colourful species found in small areas. The
Critically Endangered blue-throated macaw (Ara
glaucogularis) is one of the species that declined almost to extinction.
The blue-throated macaw only lives in palm forest islands between the large
expanses of tropical savannah in the department of Beni in Bolivia.

Asociacion
Armonia and Loro Parque Fundacion have been conducting the blue-throated macaw
conservation programme since 1993. In 2003 they published a Species Recovery
Plan that has been the basis for their conservation actions. The blue-throated
macaw programme has indicated the priority threats to the species, which are illegal
pet trade, nest cavity destruction, habitat destruction and feather collection
killings. The programme is working to reduce or terminate the key threats to
the species through a diversity of conservation actions.

Illegal pet
trade: A radical reduction in illegal trade has occurred as a result of an
extensive local education programme and local pride campaign. The programme is
now concentrating on the national illegal pet trade, educating the nation on
its impact and working with government and law enforcement entities to stop
these actions.

Nest cavity destruction:
Many of the large trees in the Beni savannah area have been cut for
construction wood. The blue-throated macaw programme has established 150 nest
boxes throughout Beni. Each year the programme refurbishes the boxes and
monitors and protects breeding chicks.

Habitat destruction:
The blue-throated macaw only exists on private ranches, with no national parks
protecting the species. The blue-throated macaw programme has created a 4,676 ha
private reserve protecting the highest density of blue-throated macaws in the
world - over one-third of the global population. The programme works to protect
the habitat of the reserve by keeping invading fires, cattle and poachers off
the reserve. The programme also needs to create tourism facilities for the
reserve in order to create long-term sustainable support for the protection of
the area.

Feather
collection killings: The indigenous culture in the Beni savannahs has a
traditional dance of high cultural importance that includes a headdress made
from the two central macaw tail feathers. Each headdress contains approximately
feathers from ten collected and killed macaws. The blue-throated macaw programme
is working with local indigenous groups to train them to create artificial
feathers that can replace macaw tail feathers. The project has had an added
benefit that the creation of these feathers and the headdresses can be sold in
festivals, giving an economic benefit to many poor communities.

The
blue-throated macaw programme has achieved many successes, but must continue
its conservation work to secure the protection of the Critically Endangered blue-throated
macaw forever. The programme urgently needs support to protect the
blue-throated macaw reserve, to continue their nest box campaign, to conduct
nationwide education programmes on the illegal trade that continues in Bolivia
and to help train and support the alternative indigenous headdresses.

WAZA Conservation Project 11015 is implemented by Asociacion Armonia, with support provided by
Loro Parque Fundacion, Chester Zoo and CEPA. Other stakeholders involved in the project include
the American Bird Conservancy, World Land Trust–US, Bird Endowment and Parrot Society.